Cougars Record First Win of Season

After facing a grueling schedule this season, the Piedmont Academy football team found itself in the win column Friday.

The Cougars defeated Windsor Academy 40-0 on the road in Macon despite still dealing with injuries to various key players. Piedmont is off this week and will use the bye to try and heal or the start of the region schedule October 18.

Coach Rhett Farmer had praise for the team’s offensive line in Friday’s victory.

“I thought our line did well assignment-wise,” said Farmer. “Our linemen knew who to block and we executed our scheme.”

Playing in the trenches for the Cougars were center Zach Wilson, tackles McKenzie Brittain and Clay Kirkpatrick, guards Mike Weatherly and Hunter Burson and tight end Mills Smith.

Payden Cantera, one of the team’s most experienced linemen, did not play Friday because of injury.

“Our defense also played well when it had to make plays,” Farmer said. “There were a lot of positives when we went back and looked at the film. The fact that we won is the biggest positive.”

Running back Cameron Hammock rushed for 195 yards on 28 carries for a touchdown. The offense had approximately 400 rushing yards.

Ben Davis added 82 yards on 10 attempts with a score. Dylan Efird, who played quarterback for the injured Hunter Knox, finished with 72 yards on eight attempts and a score. Wyatt Galloway, Malik Reid and Chris McClain also registered carries.

The special teams also got a boost from two field goals from Austin Bass from 43 and 30 yards. Chris Cain had a 32-yard interception return for a score to help spark the defense. Davis also had an interception.

Defensively, coordinator Jeff Kent said after a somewhat slow start, the players settled in and played well.

“We had several young players because of all the injuries we are dealing with,” Kent said. “It was good to get them some experience. We started slow defensively and let them put together a sustained drive. We had a big sack that ended the drive and that seemed to help wake us up. It was lights out after that.”

Smith had 12 tackles and forced a fumble while Malik Reid added nine tackles and had a fumble recovery. Evan Harvey recorded seven tackles while Chris Cain had eight tackles and an interception.

The bye week will be beneficial for the team although Farmer said it would have helped even more to have had the bye a couple of weeks ago.

“It does help to be off before the first region game,” the coach said. “This off week will hopefully help Knox and some others be able to be back.”

The team returned to practice Monday and will work through Thursday before taking Friday off.

“Our approach will be to start preparing for Dominion,” Farmer said. “They throw the football a lot and have a very athletic quarterback and wide receiver. We also have time to work on our special teams. We will not be physical because of our injuries. It’s not a normal game week where we have to race against the clock to prepare. It will be a combination of getting ready for Dominion and focusing on the basics.”

After the tough start to the season, Friday’s win meant a great deal to the players.

“A win feels a whole lot better,” Farmer said. “It’s been a while and hopefully it will give us some momentum.”

“We need an off week,” Kent added. “It will help us get healthy. It does take you out of your routine, but we do have two weeks to prepare for our first region game. It’s nice to have plenty of time to prepare.”

STATS vs. Windsor

Offense

•Cameron Hammock: 28 carries for 195 yards, 1 TD

•Ben Davis: 10 carries for 82 yards, 1 TD

•Dylan Efird: 8 carries for 72 yards, 2 TDs

•Wyatt Galloway: 2 carries for 6 yards

•Malik Reid: 3 carries for 22 yards

•Chris McClain: 2 carries for 13 yards

•Mills Smith: two-point conversion reception

Special Teams

•Austin Bass: 43-yard field goal, 30-yard field goal

Defense

•Ben Davis: 4 tackles, one interception

•Mills Smith: 12 tackles, forced fumble

•Malik Reid: 9 tackles, fumble recovery

•Evan Harvey: 7 tackles

•Michael Davis: 4 tackles

•Wyatt Galloway: 3 tackles

•Dylan Efird: 4 tackles

•McKenzie Bailey: 2 tackles

•Chris Cain: eight tackles, one interception

•Britton Bailey: 1 tackle

•Chris McClain: 1 tackle

•Zach Wilson: 1 tackle

•Austin Taylor: 3 tackles

•Zach Whitwell: 2 tackles